World

3 Men Sentenced to 158 Years in Mexico for Surfers' Murders

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 18, 2026•3 min read

Three men were sentenced to 158 years and nine months in prison by a judge in Ensenada, Mexico, for the murders of Jake Robinson, Callum Robinson, and Jack Carter Rhoad in 2024. The three victims' bodies were found at the bottom of a well with gunshot wounds to the head.

Key Facts

A judge in the coastal city of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison on Friday (16/10/2026) for the 2024 murders of two Australian brothers and their American friend.
The three defendants — Jesús Gerardo García, known as "El Kekas," Irineo Francisco "N," and Ángel Jesús "N" — were convicted of murder, robbery with violence, and vehicle theft with violence.
The victims were Jake Robinson (33) and Callum Robinson (30) of Australia and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad (30) of the United States, reported missing in late April 2024 while camping and surfing near Punta San Jose, about 80 km south of Ensenada.
Their bodies were found on May 3, 2024, at the bottom of a well, each with a gunshot wound to the head; the pickup truck they were traveling in was found burned several kilometers away.
A woman, Gisell Silva, was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in November to aggravated robbery and vehicle theft with violence; she was arrested days after the victims' bodies were found.
The judge also ordered the defendants to pay compensation to the victims' families. Baja California surfers' association president Antonio Otañez said justice had been served, but acknowledged the killings had caused a sharp drop in surf tourism to the region.

Sentence Handed Down in Ensenada

ENSENADA — A judge in the coastal city of Ensenada, Baja California, sentenced each of three men to 158 years and nine months in prison on Friday (16/10/2026), closing a lengthy legal process over the murders of two Australian brothers and their American friend during a 2024 surf trip.

The defendants — Jesús Gerardo García, known by the nickname "El Kekas," Irineo Francisco "N," and Ángel Jesús "N" — were convicted of murder, robbery with violence, and vehicle theft with violence. The sentence came a week after the three were found guilty by the court. The judge also ordered the defendants to pay compensation to the victims' families.

Victims Missing in 2024, Bodies Found in a Well

The victims were Jake Robinson (33) and Callum Robinson (30), two brothers from Australia, and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad (30) from the United States. They were reported missing in late April 2024 while camping and surfing near Punta San Jose, about 80 kilometers south of Ensenada.

After a days-long search aided by the FBI, their bodies were found on May 3, 2024, at the bottom of a well. Each victim had a gunshot wound to the head. The pickup truck they had been traveling in was found burned several kilometers from where the bodies were discovered.

A woman named Gisell Silva was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in November to aggravated robbery and vehicle theft with violence. Silva, then 23, was arrested days after the victims' bodies were found.

Baja Surf Tourism Hit Hard

Baja California surfers' association president Antonio Otañez welcomed the verdict, saying justice had been served. But he acknowledged the killings had tarnished Mexico's image and caused a "major drop" in tourist visits, particularly by surfers, to a region famous for its beautiful beaches.

"There will never be justice for the loss of a child, but these men will never hurt anyone else again," said Page Rhoad, the slain American's mother, via video link after the sentencing.

The case drew international attention and exposed the risks foreigners face when visiting the tourism-dependent country.